Step into Summer - An Afternoon Retreat
Saturday May 3rd , 2 - 5pm, Sussex
With Eloïse Haylor and Rachel Mairi Turner
4 earlybird places (Sold out) 6 places remaining
Welcome to the
Midwinter Retreat
Sheffield, 21 & 22 December 2024
This is a mini-retreat designed to fit in with your plans in the bustling festive calendar. It will feel like taking a deep breath in a pine forest.
A nourishing and enlivening space to pause, at a time when you most need it.
A creative reset that will leave you feeling grounded and set up to make the most of all the season has to offer.
Booking has now closed for this year’s retreat.
Bridging two days, we come together for three sessions, a sunset and a seasonal feast.
We reflect on the year and look forward to the days getting longer. With the guidance and support of your hosts Eloïse and Katherine, this space will hold your:
connection + creative expression + mind-body
This is for you if:
You’ve never done anything like this before. You feel nervous to try something new, but part of you just feels drawn to this
The festive period tends to go by in a blur, you’d love to change that this year
You’re a real giver, there isn’t always enough left over for you
You tend to get overwhelmed at this time of year
You would love to go on a week’s retreat on a remote island - but that just isn’t realistic right now
Taking time out for yourself doesn’t come easily
You find social events around this time are full of small talk, which can be draining and you long for space to talk about things that matter
Meet the hosts
Eloïse Haylor
a connector of people, places and ideas
Eloïse created Space to Pause because she believes the world needs more ways in which we can shift rhythms, remember how to listen deeply and empower ourselves to find wise new paths into the future we want.
Her professional background is in system change, global alliances and intergenerational collaboration, alongside individual somatic healing through massage therapy.
This midwinter she brings her wholehearted facilitation to guide the group in creative reflection, rooting, connection and intention setting. She has endless curiosity and admiration for what happens when women come together to do this.
Eloïse is happiest in woodland or on the move, be it across continents, a yoga mat or the dancefloor.
Katherine Pears
a creative soul, solo hiker, and maker
For years, Katherine has unknowingly sought out spaces to pause - from the Arctic circle to the Scottish Highlands. Now she is discovering that she can create this closer to home and finding ways to weave it into everyday life.
In 2019, following reflection on how to bring more creativity into her life, she made a major career change from teaching to landscape architecture. She believes that expressing creatively is human nature and has begun to explore new terrain for her own expression in ink, watercolour and poetry.
Ever hospitable, she warmly welcomes us into the studio and hearth of her own home in Sheffield to gather this midwinter. She will guide our nature based crafting session.
Katherine is happiest when surrounded by friends, art materials and water.
What’s included?
Opening and Closing Circles
3 guided sessions - to facilitate your creative reflection, release, integration and intention setting, including a:
Local walk to a solstice sunset viewing point
Nature-based crafting session
Midwinter feast, Saturday 6.30pm
Post feast fireside conversation
Our literal home base over the two days is in Crookes, Sheffield, as we are warmly welcomed by Katherine to gather around her own table, hearth and studio
Please note: Accommodation is not included, but do get in touch if you’re travelling in for the weekend and would like recommendations
Timings:
Saturday 21st: 1.30pm - 8.30pm (for those who can stay a little longer, we will be by the fireside until 10pm)
Sunday 22nd: 10am - 1.30pm
Booking
closes midnight Sunday 15th December
We can’t wait to welcome each of you.
Send us a message if you’d like to ask a question over email or virtual cuppa. We’d love to hear from you.
If you’re ready, do book now to catch the early bird discount!
FAQs
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This is for women who need a space to pause this winter, to be held in their creative reflection and connection. Anyone 18+ years old who identifies as a woman or gender fluid is most welcome.
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Such an important question.
"I think art is the absence of fear." - Singer-songwriter, Erykah Badu
We are all creative souls. Creativity is part of our humanity, and it's how we've survived as a species. Anyone who thinks they 'aren't creative' has probably had someone shut down or critique their expression at some point. Or sees 'being creative' as with a capital C, a group to which they do not belong. If this is you, at this point in time, we would especially love you to join us.
This will be a tender, judgement-free and easeful space that we co-create together. We offer guidance but you are free to respond to our creative prompts in your own way, and choose what feels most comfortable for you in the moment. We're more interested in the process than the output. We've learned that's where change really happens. You are invited to share as much or as little as you like with the group.
If you already feel comfortable with your creativity, we celebrate this! We can't wait to watch it in flow and at play.
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Yes! The sessions are designed to balance private reflection and opportunties for deep connection. We are both fans of solo expeditions ourselves, and applaud you for taking this time for yourself.
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A lovely idea. This retreat is in fact the result of two old friends intentionally creating space to 'more than just catch up' with each other. We would be delighted if other friendships deepened through this retreat. So you're more than welcome to come to the experience in a pair or a three, you never know what might come of it!
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No problem. Just let us know your requirements in the intake form or if easier we can discuss over our virtual coffee and work out what's best for you. Eloïse is quite familiar with the trials of a discerning tummy from personal experience in her 20s, so your request will be received by an empathetic ear.
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After the fireside conversation on Saturday night, any time from 8.30-10pm, you'll return to your home or own accommodation. We gather again at 10am on Sunday.
If you're travelling in to Sheffield, we would suggest staying in West Sheffield (Walkley, Crookes, Broomhill, Greystones, Netheredge) from where you can get a bus or Uber to our retreat home base.
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Scroll to the section above for prices and earlybird discount codes if still available.
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Yes! How thoughtful of you.
Click here to purchase as a gift.
We'll need to have a virtual coffee with the lucky recipient and receive their intake form, ideally at the start of December. If this wouldn't work for you (eg because it's a surprise present and their birthday is later in the month, just message us and we can find a workaround together).
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Bookings are non-refundable, but if you do need to cancel then you can exchange the full ticket price before Dec 1st or 1/2 ticket price from Dec 1st for a place on future Space to Pause events, including our virtual Women's Circles.
In the unlikely event that we should have to cancel, you will of course receive a full refund.
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Our home base will be in Crookes, Sheffield.
You're invited to arrive at 1.15pm for a 1.30pm start on Saturday 21st December.
We'll feast together at 6.30-8.30pm and you're welcome to stay until 10pm as we continue the evening session around the fireside.
We gather again at 10am on Sunday 22nd December, and conclude at 1.30pm.
There is on street free parking. The road is usually not full but surrounding streets also have extra space.
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Whatever you're most comfortable in. We will be taking a gentle walk (approx 60 minutes) on Saturday, so you'll need to bring warm outdoor clothing and wet weather gear just in case. We'll have the fire lit so it will be cosy at our homebase.
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The focus will be a seasonal feast on Saturday evening. Unlimited teapots, biscuits (and Eloïse's famous cocoa concoction) will be available throughout.
We will provide nourishing snacks but not a full lunch on the second day.
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Not much, as this retreat is designed to give you space, not add to your task pile.
The short list includes:
Warm weather/waterproofs and (optional) thermos for the walk
A new journal
Your curiosity and presence - we invite you to put phones on flight mode if this works for you
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Our retreat space is a classic Sheffield terrace with narrow doors and a steep staircase up to the first floor studio space. We will do everything else possible to make the space accessible, please get in touch to discuss your needs.
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If it feels feasible, we would strongly encourage everyone attending to put their phone on flight mode whilst we are together.
Or if you are feeling extra brave, leave it at home! Feel free to share Eloïse's number to share with anyone at home so they can contact you if they really need to. She'll briefly check her phone for this purpose only in between sessions.
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This is an alcohol free retreat. All manner of non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Feel free to let us know if you have a favourite!
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Great! We'd love to hear them. Do feel free to message Eloïse on Instagram @spacetopause, or send a message here. We can schedule a 20 minute virtual coffee to discuss if you prefer.
